India should not be given targets to cut down emissions: Official

New Delhi, Apr 21 (UNI) India should not be given targets to cut down carbon emissions at this juncture as the country is still in the developing stage, Secretary, Department of Environment, NCT of Delhi, JK Dadoo, asserted today.

Addressing a seminar on 'Global Warming and Sustainable Development' here at Indian National Science Academy, he said it would be unrealistic for the developed world to impose any such targets on the developing countries for cutting down emissions at this stage as it would seriously jeopardise their growth prospects.

''The developed countries at this stage emit 20 times more carbon than countries like India,'' he said.

Mr Dadoo specifically talked about the whole 'Concept of Global Warming and Sustainable Development' and explained how CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) under Kyoto framework helps to build an environmentally viable projects.

Under CDM the developed world led countries which include US, Japan, Germany and Canada expedite and fund environmentally viable technology projects in developing countries like India.

India is a leading country in the world in implementing clean development mechanism (CDM), which aims at reducing environment pollution.

''Man has encroached upon natural eco-systems by clearing forests for agriculture and urbanisation,'' Joint Director Dr Ram Jee Srivastava of Ministry of Forest and Environment, Central Region, Lucknow told the seminar.

He talked about the development of 'Green Belts' especially in Industrial Zones and urban areas which absorbs chunk of air and noise pollution emitted out by industrial units ''500 mts of green belt can mitigate 76% of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2),'' he informed.

''150 mts of green belt between industrial zone and residential units absorbs more than 50% of carbon emissions,'' he added.

The two day seminar which began today was organised to mark the celebration of Earth Day, 2008 at Indian National Science Academy under the aegis of a Non Governmental Organisation, Indian Environmental Society.

Flurry of activities including seminars, poster competitions, essay competitions and exhibition, ''My Delhi Green and Healthy City,'' were held to mark the occasion.

UNI SZ RP KP1813